The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-03-30
agricultural.
Swindlers and Their Victims.

ing observer TO note the great and never
ending number of swindles advertised
in the papers, and the extent of their
display, which very fairly indicates the
number of their dupes and the extent
of their receipts. Some philosopher
has said that man must be part knave
to be wholly a FOOL and an example
was given of very simple and exceed
ingly green countryman who, in spite
of his extreme unsophistication, steered
clear of all the snares of swndlers in
cident on his first visit to the city by
virtue of his entire and ingrained hon
esty. We cannot remember all the
story and the numerous instances given,
but one example will suffice. Strolling
by a mock-auction shop, where watch
was being sold, he stopped and looked
in. Going, going!" cried the auc-
tioneer; san elegant gold watch, solid
eighteen-carat case, full jeweled; worth
hundred and fifty dollars, and l am
only bid the pitiful sum of nine dollars
and seventy-fve cents. 1t is positive
shame to see this watch sold at such a
price; but it is the property of poor
widow, who is in pressing want, and it
must be sold" (To our honest friend):
"Give me twelve dollars on it; raise
the bid ?" "No," he says, " l won't be
guilty of trying to swindle poor
woman like that" And by his hon
esty he escapes the snare laid for un-
scrupulous cupidity. All these schemes
appeal to the desired and possible GUS
toner as offering valuable goods at
what would be fraction of their in
trinsic value, and the desire to secure
goods on such terms induces the greedy
innocent to buy experience in choice
lots and at fancy prices. And the
money these swindlers put out in adj
are numerous, and cash-paying and
profitable ones.
1t is aquestion with two sides whether
newspapers should admit such adver-
tisements into their columns-whether
they are bound to exclude all which
they think are fraudulent, or take their
money, put them in as advertisements
and let their readers take their chances.
However this may be decided, we pur-
pose giving a few of these swindling
schemes little advertising gratuitously,
L. ~. A. 4. 3d.. e..
city paper, (which has always been,
and still means to be, the great weekly
newspaper of merchants, teachers, ar
tisans, farmers and the families which
are particular about their rending."
The italics are ours.
Here is one: "The new American
stem-winder and setter. ONLY 81 D
with the picture (full size) Of what APP
pears to be watch. Nowhere in the
advertisement is it claimed that it is a
match, except by implication, but it is
a " stem-winder and setter, and in APP
pearance is similar to solid gold
watch costing zoos" The Massachu-
oClIo w dlSl COMPANY OllClo thlo NOh-
derful bargain, and any person desiring
to add to their experience in the wiles
of human nature to the amount of one
dollar can find here an excellent OPP
portunity, and receive Gf you get any
thing, which is doubtfuD the very poor
est kind of worthless sun-dial.
A similar " stem-wnder and setter"
is offered as premium to new sub
scribers only by the Farm and House
hold, Wallingford, Ct, and the paper
which will lend its name to such
fraud must be an elegant affair, though
this does say " calendar" in addition
to stem-winder, engraved hunting
cases, and patent adjustment.
Here is daisy, evidently intended
for the "truly good people," The
Franklin Publishing Company, New
Haven, Ct, has the "prettiest lot Of
Sunday-school, reward, etc., cards."
and the person who will tell them the
longest verse in the Bible, before May
list, will receive lady's watch worth
seventy-iive dollars, solid gold; and if
there be more than one correct answer
the second will receive gentleman's
gold watch, fifty-fve dollars; the third =,
silver watch, twenty-five dollars; the
fourth a gold-fnished watch, and each
of the next ten an open-face nickel
watch What unparalleled liberality!
and what a Christian desire to have
people search the Scriptures! But that
is not all. One must "enclose twelve
two-cent stamps with their answer, and
will receive pack of samples of their
lovely cards and scrap pictures, and a
plain gold ring, made from heavy 1S-k
pure rolled gold plate" What more
can one ask? Must you have the
world turned over and find on both
sides?
Ali here's richness: j. Lynn &
Co., New York, offer 1S-K SOLID
ROLLED GOLD rings by mail at ten cents
each Thew are " regular one and